A newGame of Thronesspin-off,A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knightis set to arrive on HBO. It is to focus on the adventures of the hedge knight, Dunk, and his squire, Egg.
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While the original series,Game of Thronesexplores violence, treachery, and protracted civil war in the Seven Kingdoms,A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, by comparison, will be lighter in tone. The first of its kind,A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knighthas piqued many fans' interest, and there’s some ground to cover before its debut.
10Dunk Was A Street Urchin
Dunk didn’t have a privileged upbringing, but he rose through the ranks. He grew up as an orphan in the poorest slum inKing’s Landing, Flea Bottom. His earliest memories include growing up as a street urchin in the alleys of Flea Bottom with friends namely, Ferret, Rafe, and Pudding. He described his friends as “little monsters” and admitted he was the worst of all. The lot of them would sell or dump questionable pieces of meat to pot shops of Flea Bottom that sold thick stew known as Bowls of Brown.
Ser Duncan the Tall’s story proves that all knights are not necessarily nobles, and even in the deeply nepotistic world ofGame of Thrones, people like him made a name for themselves.
9Dunk Took Ownership Of His Master’s Horses
Dunk became a squire for a hedge knight known as Ser Arlan of Pennytree whom he met in King’s Landing. A hedge night is a knight without a master or a lord who travels all over the Seven Kingdoms in search of employment. Such knights generally sleep under a hedge and own no land.
The duo traveled throughout Westeros except for North and served at Highgarden for a time as well. Arlan died of a chill in 209 AC on the way to Ashford, and Dunk gave him a burial on a hill. After that, he took possession of Ser Arlan’s chipped garnet, and three horses including the warhorse, Thunder, and decided to compete in the tourney at Ashford Meadow in his place.
8Dunk’s Knighthood Claim
Dunk’s status as a knight is questionable at best. Since knighthood was a prerequisite for participation in Ashford Tourney, dunk claimed to Lord Ashford’s steward that Ser Arlan had knighted him before dying. However, without any witnesses to the ceremony, and more importantly, due to his appearance, and contradictory facts, the steward rejected his entry and suggested he find someone to vouch for him.
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The day after, Dunk found Prince Baelor and Prince Maekar Targaryen and approached them with his problem. Luckily for him, Baelor recalled jousting against Ser Arlan and vouched for him. While Dunk’s knighthood claim is dubious, putting forward the name, Ser Duncan the Tall at the tourney registry makes his rise from a state of poverty to an elite position all the more interesting.
7Egg Lied To Dunk
Dunk meets a bald boy with indigo eyes (Egg) at an inn in a village near Ashford. He mistakes him for a stableboy, entrusts him with his horses, and leaves. After returning from his meal, he sees the same bald boy mounted on his warhorse and chastises him for being a thief.
The bald boy says he’s an orphan and insists on accompanying Dunk to Ashford as his squire. Though Dunk rejects the first time, he agrees to take him as his squire for the tourney the second time at Ashford. Dunk says he’s a knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and the bald boy says he’s Egg, an orphan from King’s Landing.
6The Trial By Seven Of Duncan The Tall
Dunk’s name is also associated with the Trial of Seven that occurred in 209 AC after he came in the defense of a Dornish puppeteer, Tanselle, and struck her attacker, Prince Aerion. Once Aerion’s guards intervened, Egg revealed his identity as Prince Aegon V Targaryen and the men backed off.
Aerion and his older brother, Prince Daeron wrongfully accused Dunk of kidnapping Aegon V, thereby instigating Maekar and forcing Baelor to allow the Trial of Seven. According to the Wiki of Fire and Ice,Duncan’s championsincluded Ser Robyn Rhysling, Ser Humfrey Hardyng, Lord Lyonel Baratheon, Ser Humfrey Beesbury, Ser Raymun Fossoway, and lastly Baelor Targaryen himself.
They fought Aerion, Daeron, and Maekar Targaryen, Ser Willem Wylde, Ser Donnel of Duskendale, Ser Roland Crakehall of the Kingsguard, and Ser Steffon Fossoway. Dunk’s side emerged victorious but at a great cost. Prince Baelor, the heir of King Daeron II Targaryen, was mortally wounded in the head by his brother Maekar. Duncan meanwhile was absolved of his charges.
5Maekar Found Duncan Worthy
Though thetwo Targaryen brothers, Baelor and Maekar had fought on opposite sides of the trial, the fact is, the haughty and cruel Aerion had indirectly caused his uncle’s death. After this trial, Maekar banished Aerion to the Free Cities.
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Branded by many as a “Kinslayer” Maekar’s reputation took a hit in the aftermath of Duncan’s trial. Nonetheless, out of this came the realization that Duncan could be a role model for his fourth son, Aegon.
4Aegon V Hid His Identity
Maekar wanted Aegon to train as a knight and offered the hedge knight a place at Summerhall as Egg’s mentor. Ser Duncan, however, refused his offer of service and laid down the condition that the young Prince Aegon take the road and learn by braving hardships along the way.
Maekar agreed and hoped his fourth son would turn out to be a better man. He made him promise to keep his head shaved or dyed to hide his Targaryen features. He also gave him a signet ring with his personal seal for protection. The young prince kept his promise and donned a wide-brimmed floppy straw hat while squiring for Duncan.
3Aegon V Became King And Duncan Became Lord Commander
Dunk, better known as Ser Duncan the Tall went on to become the Lord Commander of King Aegon V’s Kingsguard. He not only held an elite position but was also the King’s closest friend.
History is kind to Ser Duncan, as he’s considered one of the legendary knights of Westeros. He was an ace fighter known for his jostling and strength. Interestingly enough, Ser Duncan served as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard when Ser Barristan Selmy (who servedDaenerys Targaryen onGame of Thrones) started to gain prominence.
2Aegon V Named His Son After Duncan
The unlikely pair, Dunk and Egg formed an ever-lasting bond. According to author George R. R. Martin, “knighthood and chivalry” are central themes to the story of Ser Duncan the Tall and King Aegon V (perIGN).
King Aegon Vmarried Betha Blackwood in 220 AC, and they had five children together. He named his firstborn son in honor of Ser Duncan the Tall. Duncan Targaryen abdicated as Prince of Dragonstone and gave up as claim to the Iron Throne to marry a mysterious peasant woman known as Jenny of Oldstones.
1The Tragedy That Engulfed House Targaryen
Aegon V’s reign coincided with the beginning of a harsh winter and being a responsible ruler, he ensured the northerners had adequate supplies of food and grain. Furthermore, many of his measures angered the high lords of Westeros who had a chokehold over the peasantry. Without the deterrent effect of the dragons, he was forced to compromise with them on several issues. Having had enough, in 259 AC, Aegon V attempted to hatch dragon eggs, and it went nothing like Daenerys' attempt onGame of Thrones.
Dunk and Egg’s lives came to an end when a great fire broke out at Summerhall. Aegon, his son, Prince Duncan, Ser Duncan the Tall, and several courtiers perished in this great fire.The Tragedy at Summerhallleft the castle in the ruins and Aegon V was succeeded by his son, Prince Jaehaerys II on the Iron Throne.
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